For this final episode of 2024, Tammy McDaniel is joining us to chat about Advent! As a church, we’ll be intentionally tuning in to the Church calendar over the course of this next year…and that calendar actually begins in December with Advent. In the past, Tammy was skeptical about the liturgical nature of the Church calendar, but over the past few years, she’s leaned into the traditions of Advent and found that they have actually had a profound impact on her spiritual life. So today, she’s sharing with us some of what she’s learned, helping us understand the heart of Advent, and offering some practical tips.

Resources:

Text ADVENT to (717) 925-3248 to receive devotionals every Monday and Wednesday from December 2-25, written by our staff, to help you reflect further on the themes of our sermon series: watch, prepare, rejoice, and behold.

Come, Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp

Shadow and Light: A Journey into Advent by Tsh Oxenreider

Advent: The Season of Hope by Tish Harrison Warren

Global Partners, Brian and Jody Williams, recently transitioned back to the States after serving in Cambodia for 13 years. While in Cambodia, the Williams’ partnered with locals to open an international preschool which, as you’ll hear, God has used in incredible ways to advance His Kingdom. Even though they no longer live in Cambodia full-time, Brian and Jody are still quite active in the ministry that’s taking place there, and they even have a vision for how they can extend that ministry to other parts of the world.

Jonathan Yoder serves as Calvary’s Associate Pastor of Care and Visitation. Before coming to Calvary earlier this year, Jonathan had about 40 years of ministry experience, both as a senior pastor and in a care role, and he has specialized training in hospice and hospital chaplaincy. Jonathan cares deeply about coming alongside people in times of need, and through his time in end-of-life care, he has learned that we all play an important role in the body of Christ, despite our age or even our limitations.

Pastor George May oversees our Pastoral Care Department and, as you’ll hear, he has a variety of responsibilities—from overseeing support groups, visitation, weddings, and funerals, to one-on-one counseling, to teaching, and more! George cares deeply about walking alongside individual people as they experience both the joys and the sorrows of life. Today you’ll hear why George is grateful for his upbringing—right here at Calvary Church—and how God very clearly directed him to the counseling field.

Find out more about Calvary’s care and support ministries.

Johnny Vasquez grew up as a missionary kid, surrounded by the gospel his entire life. And he made a commitment to follow the Lord at a young age. As a young adult, Johnny enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and after returning from deployment in Iraq, he struggled to adjust back to civilian life. This led to issues with addiction that plagued Johnny for years. But God, in His loving-kindness, has done an amazing work in Johnny’s life and heart, bringing him from the depths of addiction, to the depths of grace.

In the late 1940s, two missionaries from Calvary Church visited Don Isely’s one-room school in Wisconsin, shared the gospel, and offered a Scripture memory program, which ultimately laid the foundation for Don to trust in Jesus. Eventually, Don himself went on to serve as a missionary, and then retired as a pastor here in the U.S. Today, he is sharing how the impact of these two missionaries reached far beyond his own life, to his family, and to others in ways that we can’t even see this side of heaven.

Angie Glick is Calvary’s Receptionist, and she also helps to schedule all of the major events that take place in our building. So, chances are, if you’ve called the church recently, or stopped in during the week for a meeting, Angie is the first person you’ve talked to! Today, Angie is sharing her story of coming to know the Lord, her heart for serving, and why she’s passionate about adoption, foster, and respite care.

Interested in learning more about Care Communities? Click here or call the church office at (717) 560-2341 for more info!

When Matt Bachman was 11 years old, he thought he was saved. He went to church, and he had a desire to go to heaven, but his basis for faith didn’t go beyond good works. For nearly 30 years, Matt believed he was saved, until one day, he realized he wasn’t. And once he found true faith in Jesus Christ, his entire perspective changed. Now, Matt is passionate about sharing the gospel, and he serves on Calvary’s baptism team because he is passionate about helping others to share their stories of being brought from death to life in Christ. But today, we’re flipping the script, and Matt is sharing his story.

As a teenager, Jeff Batzer was very focused on finding his value in his athletic abilities—in particular, climbing. By the time he graduated from high school, Jeff had teamed up with world class climbers and was tackling difficult peaks. But, in January of 1982, everything changed when a climb on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington went very wrong. Today, Jeff is sharing how God used that experience on Mount Washington to both reignite his faith and call him to a ministry of caring for those who are suffering.

Today we’re joined by Calvary Graphic Designer, Andrew Herr. If you’ve ever engaged with Calvary Church, you’ve seen Andrew’s work. You may not recognize him walking around the lobby on a Sunday morning, but chances are, his designs are somewhere in your house—on a bulletin cover, prayer guide, or even a sticker! Today Andrew is sharing about the highs and lows of his faith journey, how his passion for art led him to a career in graphic design, and the importance of daily intentionality in growing our faith in Jesus.